A so-called "genius" school to make the city a
"global center of technology and innovation" officially
opened on Roosevelt Island on Wednesday, realizing an idea first
proposed by then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg a half-dozen years ago. NY1
Education Reporter Lindsey Christ has the story.

With the cut of a ribbon, Cornell Tech opened Wednesday on Roosevelt
Island. It's among the city's most ambitious projects over the past
decade: a graduate school to help New York compete with Silicon Valley
as a technology industry hub.

"This school is an investment in the future of New York City
and that future belongs to generations to come and the students who
will help build it," former mayor Bloomberg said. "The
companies they create will generate jobs for people across the
economic spectrum. They'll generate revenue that will help the city to
pay for vitally-important services."

In 2011, the Bloomberg administration sought proposals to expand or
create an applied sciences graduate center. A partnership between
Cornell University and Technion in Israel was selected, and given $100
million in city funding to build the $2 billion tech campus.

Bloomberg also personally donated $100 million. One of the three new
buildings is named for his children.

"The best inheritance that I can leave my daughters and my
grandchildren is a better city and a better world," Bloomberg
said at the press conference. "I think it's fair to say there are
few projects that can do as much for both places as this one."

The ceremony was filled with veiled political drama. Gov. Andrew
Cuomo, who has a strained relationship with Mayor Bill de Blasio,
heaped praise on de Blasio's predecessor.

"Mayor Bloomberg, thank you for today, and thank you for 12
years of extraordinary service," Cuomo said. "You, my
friend, left New York City better than you found it, and there is no
higher praise for a public servant."

When it was de Blasio's turn, he also complimented his predecessor
after reminding everyone that he was not usually a Bloomberg fan.

"I don't think I've been accused of being a Mike Bloomberg
sycophant. So, I will say that, therefore, I hope the praise is seen
as that much more genuine," de Blasio said at the press
conference. "We are standing here because of one person who had
the vision and had the persistence to believe this could happen."

Classes for Cornell Tech students began in 2012 in Google's
Manhattan headquarters. This month, students and faculty moved to the
permanent space on an East River island.

This was Phase One of construction. When the work is completed,
there will be 2 million square feet of space and an estimated 2,000
graduate students.

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